Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Smoked Ethmalosa fimbriata and Gymnarchus niloticus from Selected Fish Markets in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in edible muscles of two smoked fish species (Ethmalosa fimbriata and Gymnarchus niloticus) collected from different fish markets in the Niger Delta in Nigeria were determined. The aim of the study was to ascertain the PAH composition and consequent potential human health risk through dietary ingestion of these smoked fish species. The Σ16 PAH concentrations varied from 237 to 965 µg kg⁻¹. The compositional pattern of PAHs in the fish species showed the prevalence of 2–4 ring PAHs over 5–6 ring PAHs. The carcinogenic potency (BaPTEQ) values ranged from 5.4 to 122 µg kg⁻¹ and 27 to 102 µg kg⁻¹ for E. fimbriata and G. niloticus, respectively, while the mutagenic potency (BaPMEQ) values varied from 2.8 to 135 µg kg⁻¹ and 20 to 83.2 µg kg⁻¹ for E. fimbriata and G. niloticus, respectively. The estimated incremental lifetime cancer risk from the ingestion of these fish samples varied from 1.04 × 10⁻⁹ to 2.34 × 10⁻⁸ which suggested that there is no considerable cancer risk arising from the ingestion of these fish species.

Keywords:

• Dietary exposure
• health risk assessment
• PAHs
• smoked fish

Acknowledgment

Research support from the National Research Foundation of South Africa is gratefully acknowledged.